(19)

(11)

EP 1 091 692 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 18.04.2001 Bulletin 2001/16 (21) Application number: 00929383.8 (22) Date of filing: 17.04.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A61B 8/00 (86) International application number: PCT/EP0003/536 (87) International publication number: WO 0066/000 (09.11.2000 Gazette 2000/45)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 29.04.1999 US 302063 (71) Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. 5621 BA Eindhoven (NL)	(72) Inventors: AVERKIOU, Michalakis NL-5656 AA Eindhoven (NL) POWERS, Jeffrey, E. NL-5656 AA Eindhoven (NL) BRUCE, Matthew NL-5656 AA Eindhoven (NL) SKYBA, Danny, M. NL-5656 AA Eindhoven (NL) (74) Representative: Lottin, Claudine  Philips Corporate Intellectual Property,156 Boulevard Haussmann 75008 Paris 75008 Paris (FR)